Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Krishna always taught about importance of cows through his actions. His love for cows is also seen from his pastimes he performed in Vrindavan. Krsna is also known as “Gopal”- “one who brings satisfaction to the cows”. When Krishna taught a lesson to the king of heaven Indra by lifting Govardhan, Embarrassed Indra asked for an apology and gifted a cow to please Krishna.

Krishna would take the cows in the forests and would even milk cows while he lived in Vrindavan. He treated cows with utmost care. When he would play flute cows stopped eating grass and cry incessantly. Mother Yashoda would apply Gomutra, Goraj on Krishna, thinking that it will save Krishna from demons.

When Krishna went to Mathura, cows would not eat anything; they were deeply saddened by krishna’s absence. Kansa-the king of Mathura sent Akrur to Vrindavan to bring Krishna & Balram to Mathura. Akrur was gifted a cow by Krishna during that meeting. Krishna would gift cows to bramhins, saints when he was in Dwarka. Moreover, in Dwarka Krishna created deities of cows and would often offer his obeisance to them.

At the end of his Avatar Krishna told his beloved friend Uddhava that cow’s worship is equal to his worship. Krishna told Uddhava that whatever things I could do, whatever demons I could kill, was just because I served cows and I got this power by simply worshiping and serving a cow. He attributed credit of his deeds to cows.

If we offer bath to Krishna with “Panchagavya” then it pleases Krishna the most. Panchagavya means all the things that a cow yields namely curd, milk, ghee, gomutra and cow dung. Panchagavya is used in all dharmik vidhi including sacrifices (Yagya).

This tells us about how important it is for us to take care of Mother Cow. Srila Prabhupad once said” If you can keep cows, it is very good. You'll get fresh milk. That's a great benefit. To take care of the cow is a religious function for the Hindus but actually if care is taken for cows, it delivers us the miracle food—cow's milk, which is so valuable. And because we drink cow's milk, we should accept the cow as our mother. That is etiquette. One who is serious in his devotional life and wants Krishna cannot ignore the importance of a cow".

In the 11th (11.11.43) Canto of Shrimat Bhagwatam Krishna told his beloved cousin Udhava that he can be worshiped by offering cow grass and other suitable grains. Worshiping cow is equal to worshiping Krishna.

By feeding grass and by offering puja to the cows, one can receive extraordinary spiritual benefits. Serving and protecting cow pleases God and Demi-gods present in the cow and it takes us closer to the Supreme personality of God.

According to Skanda Purana, “One can demolish all his sinful acts by simply offering respect to the cows”. If we maintain and serve a cow in a nice manner then we can not only catch Krishna’s attention and but we can please Krishna as well. Krishna is kind with those who save cows and protect them. He is delighted by any effort done to serve a cow and he never even forgets us if we benefit cow.

As an animal cow is very lovable, simple and gentle, what we can do to serve her is we can buy grain for her, feed her every time we get an opportunity and we can donate the cow to an institution where they are treated with utmost care.

Mahatma Gandhi once said” Cow is the source of progress and prosperity. In many ways it is superior to one’s mother”.Killing a bull is equivalent to killing a cow. – Jesus Christ

Cow protection is the eternal dharma of India. - Dr. Rajendra Prasad, 1st President of IndiaTill cows are slaughtered, no religious or social function can bring its fruit.- Devrah Baba

1. One round of chanting near cows is equal to one hundred rounds of chanting

2. The presence of cow in house removes all"Vastu-Dosh"i.e it saves from Negative energy

3. A simple touch to a holy cow you will gives positive energy

4. Cow milk helps us in spiritual life as it raises "Satva guna"(the mode of goodness)

5. If you offer "Chapati and Jaggery (Gud)" to cows on Sundays it will bring all kinds of prosperity

6. Giving prasadam to one bramhin in Go-shala is counted as prasadam given to hundred bramhin

Types of Goseva you can do:

1. By feeding them Jaggery, bananas, green grass and chapatis

2. By buying books on cows and donating , distributing them for creating awareness

3. Visit goshalas and massage cows, they love it4. Buy medicines for them, Arrange doctors to treat ill cows and pay for the treatment5. To please Krsna you can create pamhlets of importance of cows and distribute them among devotees 6. Drink cow milk and encourage others for that7. Chant and pray for the protection and well-being of cows

Friday, September 2, 2011

Pitamaha Bhishma and Uddhava had one thing in common, they were Guru Bandhus. The Bright students of Raj Purohit Brihaspati have great importance in life of Krishna. Similarly if there has to be calculation of Pitamaha Bhishma and Uddhava’s life, Krishna was their biggest achievement.It is so very important in life to have an ideal Guru as all Brihaspati students ranked at the top in Krishna’s list. Especially the Uddhava, who started worshipping Krishna since his childhood, He would make Krishna’s deity, offer puja to Krishna when he was 5.Though they shared a relation in between them; their relation was way beyond understanding.

One thing was sure about Uddhava that he was never counted as distressed, the desirer of wealth, Inquisitive kind of a devotee. He was always the fourth devotee, the one who searches the knowledge of absolute. According to Bhagwat Geeta 7.16 and 7.17, Uddhava, right from the beginning was situated in the knowledge and Krishna says such a devotee is dear to me.

When Krishna thought Uddhava must have taste and essence of pure devotion, he sent Uddhava to Braj and showed him that it’s not knowledge alone that wins him it’s the love.Brajvasis never worshipped Krishna as a creator and a destroyer of the world. For them Krishna was their own property, they sat on his head, they teased him and they fought with him.

Going to Braj changed his vision and changed the vision of whom? Uddhava who would have lunch& dinner with Krishna, who would eat whatever Krishna left in his plate, who would wear Krishna’s out of use Clothes and Garlands. Just By eating remaining food from Sages plate, Dev Rishi Narad became such a big devotee. Here Krishna would make Uddhava sit right next to him. He would consider Uddhava’s suggestions.

Not many people knew about Krishna's Rasleela, Krishna would share all his secrets with Uddhava only, Krishna took him to Kubja’s place also. Krishna’s love for one of the Ashtavasu Uddhava was ineffable. At times Krishna waited for Uddhava to come to meet him, moreover he sent Rukhmini to call Uddhava and he would send Rukhmini away when Uddhava was around.

When Krishna decided to head towards his abode, Uddhava insisted Krishna to take him to Vaikunth and then Krishna gave the knowledge to Uddhava of how to attain him and how one must worship Krishna which is there in 11th Canto of Shrimat Bhagwatam.

One thing is for sure, we may be distressed or desirer of the wealth kind of devotees but for us, aim is to be the fourth devotee.